Expanded symposium in Qamishli examines prospects for dialogue, negotiation in Syria

The Syrian Democratic Council organized an expanded dialogue symposium in the Zana Hall in Qamishli under the title "The Importance of Negotiating for a Free Democratic Future." Representatives from Kurdish, Arab, and Syriac political parties, youth and women's organizations and institutions, civil society organizations, independents, journalists, writers, intellectuals, research centers, and representatives from the Democratic Autonomous Administration in al-Jazira Canton participated.

The symposium addressed several key issues related to the fate of the region, most notably:

The importance of negotiation and the mechanism for forming negotiating committees, in addition to the mechanism for implementing the provisions of the March 10 agreement between the Syrian Democratic Forces and the Damascus authorities, presented by Fawza Youssef, a member of the Democratic Union Party's (PYD) Presidency Council.

The education issue between the Education Authority of North and East Syria and the Ministry of Education in the Damascus authorities, presented by Samira Haj Ali, co-chair of the Education Authority in the Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria.

Building alliances within the Syrian Democratic Council, presented by Khabat Muhammad, a member of the Council's Presidency Council.

In the first session, Fawza Youssef emphasized that Syria has experienced a political earthquake in recent months, and that the solution must be far removed from security and military options. She explained that international mediation plays an important role in advancing the dialogue process with the Damascus authorities, to avoid military solutions, which have proven to have disastrous consequences at all economic, social, cultural, and service levels.

She emphasized that Syrians need a new language and approach to address the state of division, saying, "The old mentality must go away. We are all sick as Syrians, and the principle of an eye for an eye will not serve anyone. We must begin with tolerance and reject hate speech."

Regarding the negotiations with the Damascus authorities, Fawza Youssef revealed that initial meetings had taken place in which an understanding was reached on some basic issues. She emphasized that these are preliminary principles that require subsequent steps to strengthen consensus following the agreement reached between the SDF and the Damascus authorities.

She also explained that there have been developments regarding Aleppo, particularly regarding the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafieh neighborhoods, as well as the Tishrin Dam, where several items have been agreed upon. However, she emphasized that there are still outstanding issues that require further efforts.

She emphasized that the delegation formed for the negotiations (the Negotiating Committee) has not yet held any direct meetings with Damascus, despite repeated affirmations of readiness for dialogue.

Education in North and East Syria Needs Clear Agreement with Damascus

In the second session, Samira Haj Ali addressed the education issue and the negotiation process between the Education Authority in North and East Syria and the Ministry of Education in Damascus. She explained that the negotiation process regarding education is extremely vital, and that the Authority had made previous attempts prior to the agreement between the SDF and the Damascus authorities.

She revealed that there was flexibility and positivity from the other party regarding sharing educational experiences in North and East Syria. She noted that the meeting held at the official invitation of the Ministry of Education in Damascus on April 13 and 14 was positive, but no final agreement was reached on holding exams within the Autonomous Administration areas.

She emphasized that students in North and East Syria are demanding that their exams be taken in their areas to avoid material, moral, and psychological problems.

Samira Haj Ali confirmed that negotiations are still ongoing, and that UNICEF is playing a mediating role in these discussions. However, she explained that the organization sent a letter to the Damascus authorities but has not yet received a response.

She concluded her remarks by saying, "We are fully prepared to guarantee the rights of students, and we hope to reach an appropriate formula that guarantees the rights of the Syrian people in the constitution."

In the third session, Khabat Muhammad, a member of the Presidency of the Syrian Democratic Council, addressed the issue of alliance building and the foundations upon which they are based. He noted that the establishment of the Syrian Democratic Council in 2015 was one of the proposed solutions to resolve the Syrian crisis, given the marginalization of active components by the existing political frameworks at the time.

Muhammad explained that tyranny and marginalization are not linked to ethnicity or sect, but rather are the systematic behavior of the authority that monopolizes power. He emphasized that the Syrian Democratic Council adopts peaceful solutions based on knowledge and understanding of Syrian issues.

He emphasized that trying to find solutions through negotiation is the only way to end the Syrian conflict, citing the event that occurred on December 8, which embodied the importance of prioritizing dialogue among Syrians to reach a new vision that changes the regime's behavior and ensures the participation of all Syrian political forces.

Participants' Proposals for a Successful Negotiation Process

The session witnessed a broad discussion on the role of alliances. Participants believed that the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria must negotiate with its own people first before negotiating with Damascus. They emphasized that the principle of alliances must be based on a comprehensive Syrian national meeting, based on a clear political program that reflects the aspirations of all components.

Participants also emphasized that the authorities in Damascus lack the will to engage in genuine negotiations with North and East Syria, due to regional and international interference that hinders the independence of political decision-making.

They emphasized that any delay in negotiations will not be in the interest of the Syrian people, calling on the negotiating committee to exert greater efforts at the regional and international levels to pressure Damascus to achieve a peaceful negotiated solution.

In another context, participants highlighted the importance of the exam issue, which relates to the fate of tens of thousands of students holding middle and high school diplomas.

Participants concluded by stressing the need to persist with dialogue and negotiation despite political and regional obstacles. They noted that the current political climate provides an opportunity for Syrians to seek a genuine solution to the crisis, including the adoption of a decentralized or federal political system with international guarantees that safeguards the rights of all Syrian components.

T/S
ANHA